Last.



No. 756,667. PATENTED APR. 5, 1904.

WlT/VESSES: INVENTOR F' l- G 3 UNrrnD. STATES i atented April 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MACK, OF BUTTE, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN A.JOHNSON, OF BUTTE, MONTANA.

LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,667, dated April 5,1904.

Application filed July 1, 1903. Serial No- 163,926. (No model.) i

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in lasts especiallyadapted for use upon shoes capable of being turned inside out. A

The object of the invention is to provide a last of simple, inexpensive,and durable construction by means of which the process of resoling orrepairing turned shoes is simplified.

A further object is to so construct the last as to adapt it for use onshoes of various sizes, notches being provided for the reception'of theshoe-heels according to size.

WVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation of a curved last constructed in accordance with myinvention, a portion thereof being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a bottomplan view; and Fig. 3 is a sec- .tion on line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Referring to the figures by designating-numerals, 1 represents a last,which is dished or concave for the full extent of one of its surfaces,as shown, and convex for a portion of its opposite surface, the convexsurface being provided with a leather cover or shield 5. Continuing fromthe inner extremity of said convex surface the rear surface of the neckof the last is formed with angular grooves 4, the upper wall of eachsucceeding one of which projects beyond the corresponding wall of thepreceding groove. The upper extremity of the neck of the last terminatesin the usual head 2, having the recess 3 therein for the introduction ofeither a suitable tool or the shank of a standard. By forming theangular grooves 4 in the manner stated means of adjustment areconstructed in the rear part of the last having a material scope Withoutdetracting from the strength of the last in a transverse direction. Itis a well-known fact among shoemakers that turn-shoes when repaired orresoled are difficult to handle with the old form of straight last andin some instances where a last is not used. Frequently this class ofshoes had to be soaked in water or the heels removed to permit them tobe properly reversed to fit over a last. Lasts have also been made forrepairing turn-shoes having a single recess or rabbet to receive theheel; but such lasts were found expensive in view of the fact that eachsize of shoe required a different last and the heels of different sizesof shoes could not be practically held on the same last. To overcomethese disadvantages, the present form of last has been devised andprovided with a plurality of grooves 4, varying in dimensions toaccommodate'turn-shoes of different sizes on the same last.

In use the front portion of the shoe is turned and placed over the last,the heel resting in one of the grooves 4. By providing several groovesthe heels of shoes of different sizes can be placed in engagement withthe last. The last is preferably formed of metal, and the leather coverserves to prevent the shoe from becoming discolored by the metal.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of myinvention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve theright to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of myinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A last,having a concave surface for the full extent of one side thereof and aconvex surface for a portion of its opposite side, the remaining portionof the convex side named being In testimony whereofI aflix my signaturein formed wltha plurahty of grooves 1n successive presence of tWoWitnesses.

arrangement and varying in size, each Wall of 1 each succeeding one ofWhich projects beyond CHARLES MALK' the corresponding Wall of the groovenext Witnesses: preceding it, whereby turn-shoes of different CHAS. L.SMITH, sizes may be repaired on a single last. A GEO. W. FARLIN, Jr.

